<p>Disclosed is a mullite ceramic which is characterized by containing spherical mullite particles having an aspect ratio of 1-2 (inclusive) and needle-like mullite particles having an aspect ratio of more than 2 but 10 or less in a polishing cross-section. The mullite ceramic is also characterized in that the average length of the needle-like particles is 2-10 times the average diameter of the spherical particles and the area ratio of the needle-like particles to all the particles is 0.03-0.3. It is preferable that the area ratio of the coarse needle-like particles having an aspect ratio of more than 10 to all the particles in the polishing cross-section is 0.2 or less. It is also preferable that the mullite ceramic has an apparent porosity of 5-27%.</p>
